Meter-testing switch



June 3, 1930. NEWMAN 1,761,638

METER TESTING SWITGH Filed July 26, 1924 47 &1 4201 new Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFcE THOMAS .T. NEWMN, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SUPERIOR SWITCHBOARD & DEVICES COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO METER-TESTING SWITCH Application filed July 26, 1924. Serial No. 728504.

This invention relates to switches for use structed that the meter can be easily and readily tested without interrupting the flow of current to the Customer. The obj ects of the present improvement are to provide a switch of this character, by the use of which any necessary tests of the meter may be made without the use of a detachable or portable terminal board, or similar devce, the switch being so constructed as to control difi'erent combinations of the wire terminals to make the several tests without disconnecting any of the terminalsc A further object of the invention is' the provision of a peculiar switch member, which includes a pivoted switch blade arranged for selective engagement with either of two contacts, the parts being so arranged that the switch blade engages one contact before it passes entirely out of engagement With the other contact.

The above and other objects maybe attained by constructing the invention in the manner illustrated in the acconpanyng drawing, in whichp F igure 1, is a perspective View of a switch embodying the. invention; Fig. 2, a transverse sectional View of the same, and r Fig. 3, a diagrammatic view showing the wiring connect-ing the improved switch with the meter.

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.

The switch is designed for making any standard tests upon three phase three wire, two phase three wire or two phase four wire primary circuits, and three phase three wire or two phase three wire secondary circuits, and in the accompanying drawing the switch is illustrated in connection with a two or three phase three wire primary KVVH meter.

The switch is mounted upon a base or block 1, formed of any suitable insulation material, and is provided with three single switches upon its 'left side for testing the different lines of the circuit, and with a double switch upon its right side for testing the meter.

The single switches are indicated generally at 2, 3 and 4, and each comprises a switch blade 'pivoted at its lower end, as by the bolt 6, upon a bracket 7, to which is connected a binding post 8. The binding posts of the switches 2, 3 and 4 are connected by the Wires 9, 10 and ll respectively with the line wires 12, 13 and 1401? the circuit.

Contacts 15, 16 and 17 are provided upon the block for engagement with the blades of the switches 2, 3 and 4 respectively, each contact being provided with a binding post 18.

The bindng posts 18 of the switches 2 and 4 are connected by the wires 19 and 20 with the upper and lower potential coi1s,21 and 22 respectively, of the meter, and the`binding post 18 of the switch 3 is connected by a wire 23 with both of said potential coils, upon the opposite side of the meter.

The double switch mechanism for testing the meter comprises'a pair of spaced switch blades 24 and 25, each ofwhch is pivoted at one end as by a bolt 26, to a bracket 27. Binding posts 28 and 29 are provided upon the brackets of the switches 24 and respectively. The free ends of the switch blades 24 and 25 are arranged to be normally engaged in the contact jaws 30 and 31 respectvely which are provided with the binding posts 32 and 33.

An insulated handle 34 may be provided upon each ofthe switch blades 24 and 25 as well as .the switch blades 5. `A yoke 35 is mounted upon the base block, surrounding the intermediate portion' of each of the switch blades 24 and 25, the legs of each yoke being spaced apart suficiently to prevent engage ment of the switch blade in the normal position.

The outer ends of the legs of the yokes 35 are bent inwardly, forming contact jaws 36, the upper edges of which are inclined, one jaw being provided with the angular flange por- 9 tion 37, forming a short circuit clip and acting as a stop to limit the opening movement of the switch blade. The jaws 36 are so located with reference to the jaws 30 and 31 as to engage the switch blade before the same has been entirely disengaged by the jaws or 31.

A pair of bus bars 38, Parallel to the switches 24 and 25, are located between said switches and connected at their lower ends by a bridge member 39 provided with the binding posts 40. An angular bar 41 connects each of the bus bars 38 with the adjacent yoke 35.

A short bar 42 is aligned with, and spaced from the upper end of each of the bus bars 38, a screw'being located in the block between the ends of said bars, and provided with a flanged head 43 arranged to engage both bars, to complete the circuit there-through, when the screw is tightened. Binding posts 44 and 45 are provided upon the right and left hand bars 42 respectively.

A wire 46 is connected with the binding post 28 and connected to the current transformer 47 connected in the circuit of the line wire 14, said transformer being connected by a wire 48 with one of the binding posts 40. A similar transforner 49 in the circuit of the line wire 12, is connected to the wire 48 and to a wire 50, which also connects with the V binding posts 29.

tached thereto, and not only provi es a good meter under test.

contact, but also prevents the testing clips from accidentally slipping.

spaced terminalsadjacent to the bus bar, contact jaws upon one of said terminals and a switch blade pivoted to the other terminal and arranged to selectively engage either of said contact jaws, the contact Jaws upon the yoke having an angular fiange forming a short circuit clip.

2. A meter test switch including an insulati on base, a bus bar upon the base, wire terminals'connected to both ends of the bus bar, an angular bar connected to the bus bar, a yoke mounted upon the angular bar, contact jaws upon the yoke, a pair of spaced terminals mounted on the base independent both electrica'lly and mechanically of the first mentioned terminals, bus bar, angular bar, yoke and contact jaws but adjacent thereto, con: tact jaws upon one of said spaced terminals, and a switch blade pivoted to the other of said terminals extending through said yoke and so located as to selectively engage either of said jaws, and to simultaneously engage both of said jaws when being moved from engagement with one to the other.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

THOMAS J.- NEWMAN.

In testing the line wires the blade's of the switches 2, 3 and 4 may be individually operated to cut out the different lines of the circuit. In testing the meter the switch blades 24 and 25 are raised out of engagement with the contact jaws 30 and 31 and into engagement with the yoke jaws 36, 'short-circuiting the transformer crcuits, the current passing from the wires 46 and 50, through the' switch blades 24 and 25, and yoke jaws 36, through the bars 41 and 38, through the bar 39 and wire 48 to the current transformers, closing the Circuits of current transformers 47 and 49 and disconnectin electrical circuit of Eit er of the flanged screws 43 may be loosened two or three turns for the Consumer& load test, breaking the circuit between the bars 38 and 42. 4

I claim:

1. A switch of the character described including an insulation base, a bus bar upon the base, wire terminals connected to both ends of the bus bar, an angular bar connected to the bus bar, a yoke mounted upon the angular bar, contact jaws upon the yoke, a pair of 

